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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Summer Showcase of Homes - Come On In

I am so thrilled to be part of the 2013 Summer Showcase of Homes. 26 homes over 5 days. I hope you have had a chance to see them all. If not you can see the entire list at the bottom of this post.

Today is my turn to open the doors to my home. I've been looking for you and I'm so thrilled you're here - Come on in.

I have been cleaning, polishing and baking like mad in anticipation of your visit. So how about some iced tea and a few cookies and then just stroll around at your leisure.

A few of our friends should be stopping by soon, so I am sure you'll see some friendly faces and make a few new friends too.

Here is a copy of the floorplan of our house, I think this will help you follow along from room to room. It is 3 bdrm, 2bath, l859 sq. ft. As I have said many times, a small house, but it does have a workable floorplan. Retiring and downsizing has been a challenging experience since this is almost half the size of our previous home. Most days I feel like I am trying to squeeze the juice back in the grapefruit or myself into a size 4. I am finally settling in and slowly transforming it into a space that feels like me.

We have a typical tract home you would find in the middle of the desert, complete with desert landscaping and a few cactus and succulents. Since I was raised in the south, I think every porch should have rocking chairs and ferns, so of course mine does too. When the weather is cool, a great place to sit and relax.

You can see all the way thru the house to the backyard from the front door. A very open floorplan.

As you enter this is the view you have of the living/dining area.

As you walk in and look around this is the full view of the livingroom. The entire house has a neutral base with soft beige walls and carpet. This allows me to change my color scheme about every 15 minutes and I do. lol

That huge mirror really doubles the look of the size of this room. In our previous house it looked rather small in a large room with 2 story ceilings, but as they say, use what you have so I did, and it works wonders for this room in both size and character.

Come on in through the opening to the familyroom/kitchen/breakfast area. This is where we live and where company always gathers. I love being able to cook and still be part of all the fun.

Across from the seating area is the entertainment center and you also see the door to the patio and the backyard.

While we are here, let's go on outside and enjoy our tea on the patio. It's not a huge area, but just perfect for a small bench and a table and chairs. ( My mom and dad made me the bonnet bench about 40 yrs ago, so it is one of my most treasured pieces. )

We have a really small yard, and with our hot temps in the summer and then a few cold days in the winter, some of the flowering plants I want to grow have such a hard time. I have quite a few as you can see that need to be planted. Maybe in a few days when it cools down below 110.

Ok, it's getting a little warm, so let's head back in and finish up in the familyroom/kitchen area.

Standing in front of the entertainment center, this is the view of the breakfast area on the left and the kitchen on the right. Yep, that's the front door you see, one straight shot from the front to the back.

Standing next to the breakfast table, you can see part of the entertainment center and how the kitchen works into the floorplan. The kitchen is literally the center of our house and I love that it is open to the familyroom and breakfast area.

The left side of the kitchen. Here you can see the opening to the living/dining area, and both doorways to the hall. It definitely helps that the hall opens to the living area as well as the kitchen, that way there are no bottle necks anywhere.

Let's start down the hallway leading off the living/dining area. I have a small collection of antique clocks that were my mothers. They are some of my favorite treasures.

This is a closer look at a couple of them.

However this one is the neatest one of all. My mom and dad made this one for me. My dad was a contractor, but my mom was just as handy, she had a lathe and did all the turnings herself.

See the two placques inside. Love Mother & Daddy 1977.

As we continue on, the first door on the left is a coat closet and then you come to the laundry room. This room does triple duty with not only the washer/dryer, but the second fridge plus a cabinet for all of my crafting and sewing supplies. It also acts as storage for a lot of my accessories I'm not using at the moment. I spend a lot of time in this little room. (That door leads to the garage.)

I used every every square inch of wall space to display special treasures that make me happy every time I walk in here. The little wine cabinet holds a few bottles that we like to share at dinner parties, plus I roll up placemats that I'm not using and slide them into the wine slots to store them. As I said, every square inch. lol

The next door is the Guest Bedroom. This is probably the only place where you will ever see an antique kitchen with a bed in the middle. Now these are treasured antique pieces that I just couldn't part with, so I made them work. How about a drop leaf kitchen work table complete with curved tin flour bins as a nightstand and a hoosier on the other side.

The Hoosier makes a fabulous desk when a guest needs one. The work surface pulls out for a very generous work space.

The butter churn holds a $1 tv from Goodwill and the lawyers bookcase houses some of my dads hand tools. There's also a few antiques used as accessories too. Works for me. To see how it all came together, check out this post.

Turn right down the hall and you come to the guest bathroom. Small, but functional. This is my most recent room redo. You can see how I pulled it together by rehabbing and shopping the house here.

Just using what I had and shopping the house, I was able to totally transform this room. The shower curtain is leftover fabric from the family room drapes and I added a favorite painting and some transferware dishes.

I gave a tutorial on how to remove a medicine cabinet and patch the wall in this post. That made a huge difference. There's room for a towel by the sink and a cute picture from Goodwill. I also gave you a tutorial on how I antiqued and aged the mirror.

You can find a "how to" for the tank topper tray here. Now even that curvy tank top can be used to display some fun bathroom accessories and they won't slide off.

The next room is my hubby's office.(see the door on the right) There is no way you will ever see a picture of that room. He definitely isn't the neatest person in the world and papers are everywhere. lol However I do love this wonderful antique clock that came out of a school in LA. The buttons on the bottom were used to ring the bells for lunch - recess and etc. They still work.

At the end of the hall is the Master Bdrm and bath.

I found the headboard at Hotel Liquidators, the dresser at a thrift store and the nightstand at Goodwill. You can see the tutorials on these and other refinishing and painting projects here.

Across from the bed is an armoire. It holds our tv and has some drawers and shelves for extra storage.

This is one of my favorite finds. - -$15 at Goodwill. I restained and redid part of the upholstery, love it. This was a huge upgrade to the l970's chair that was previously here. See that redo here.

A view into the bathroom from the bedroom.

As you enter the bathroom, the tub and shower are on the right and the vanity is straight ahead. The angeled door leads you to the water closet and the door on the left is the walk in closet.

It's always bright and cheery in here with all the light from the window, and I love, love, love the soaker tub.

Paint and new light fixtures are about all I've done in here. I left the huge mirror because it makes the room seem so much bigger.

That's it for the tour. I can't thank you enough for stopping by, I love company and you are always welcome. If you are new here, I would love for you to follow me. Just click on any of the links below.

I also have a special treat tomorrow for Show Off & Inspire. We have a fabulous tour of Kelly's home from Talk of the House. You really don't want to miss this one so add it to your list of tours.

This is a list of the homes open for you to tour. If you missed any, you can still catch up. Here is the complete schedule.

Marty- I love seeing the whole house. I also love your clock collections...especially the handmade one. Where did you get that circle mirror in your family room. I love how big it is. Thanks for opening your home to me and for baking. by the way , what did you bake me?

Wow gorgeous home Marty! I've "seen" your home many times in your posts but this was great to get the full tour in one sitting and including the floor plan helped a lot too. You've done such a beautiful job with your place!

Oh, Marty- I sooooo enjoyed your home tour! I love your house - and your style - it is elegant, yet comfy. I REALLY loved how you have used precious treasures for double purpose (Hoosier as guest desk is brilliant, and what a magnificent piece!)

I loved how you were there to welcome us by opening your door, literally - and using your floor plan was so helpful.

Marty your house is the perfect size. I wish we would downsize - who needs too much space, seriously? It's so much to care for, you know? Even with higher sqf most homes you can see straight to the back, you can here for sure. I always kinda liked that, though they say to put a plant or something in front - bad feng shui I guess, haha. (That explains a lot here, har har.)

Thanks for sharing your space.

My very favorite room is your living room - all your spaces are beautiful but that is straight out of a magazine. You have great taste and I love you do it frugally. That's more fun, isn't it? Hugs.

Marty - I loved your tour - especially your antique clocks! My Dad collects antique clocks and has well over 100 in his home - he actually has a couple of the ones you have, so that brought back great memories for me!

Oh you know I think you are the best vignette creator around!Marty, you look so cute in that door pic, love it!Your home is beautiful, and it seems big to me.Our's is only 1600 s.f. so anything bigger is big to me.Gosh I can't wait to see you in October!Hugs friend,Cindy

You have such a lovely home, Marty! I can totally get the downsizing and challenge of a smaller home. Our old house was also twice the size of the condo we are in now. Realistically it works better for just the two of us, and I like the open floor plan, but I'm limited with wall space so I have to make sure I love what I'm putting up {or trade it out for the next thing I love!}. I like how your kitchen is in the center so you can access it from your public and private rooms.

Everything looks wonderful and welcoming Marty, just like you:-) I can empathize with you about the space having moved from 3,800 to 1,500 sf myself, but we have five people and also work from home, so I'll trade for your square footage and garage for sure, lol. Love the open space and how you can see into the back from the front. Beautiful:-)

I enjoyed each and every room, so beautifully decorated filled with personality and warmth! I have been waiting for weeks for this moment:) I love how you incorporate antiques of yesteryear into your beautiful decor. The Hoosier turned desk in the guest room has always been my favorite and the hallway with the beautiful clock collection makes a wonderful gallery wall..love it! And I enjoy your warm and cozy kitchen, I love hanging out in your kitchen whenever I visit you for inspiring new ideas:)Your recently remodeled bathroom is my recent favorite, you did an awesome job on it! Thank you for making us feel so welcome and special as we toured your gorgeous desert home :D Hugs,Poppy

Oh my dear I have eagerly been anticipating your grand tour and grand it is. I feel very blessed to have seen your beautiful home in person where I truly felt wonderful love and warmth in each room. Your newest bathroom makeover has been such an inspiration to me. Thank you for sharing. I can't wait to see you, it's been far to long.

I enjoyed seeing your home all at once, Marty...and how fun to see the floor plan! It is so beautiful and warm...just has your mark on every corner! Your outdoor spaces are so inviting and pretty! Thanks so much for taking us on the tour!...hugs...Debbie

I love your home, Marty! It's warm & inviting. I especially like how you've kept it filled with things you love, that have character & a story, things that are close to your heart ... not just what's trendy at the moment. Some of my favorite things: your porch is lovely, the bench on the back patio made by your parents {also the clocks they've made for you}, the painting of the old man praying {I commented on that once before} & the 2 paintings of the girls -- the one in your bedroom, but especially the one by the clocks. You've made all the right choices for a beautiful home. Blessings =)

Marty, I just had to say that even though it's smaller than what you had, the floorplan is excellent and by you bringing all your antiques and personal treasures, have made this such a warm and charming place. It's really all we want in life, not the grand but the personal and comforting...like your place.

Marty,I loved seeing you open the door for us! Your home is as welcoming as you are my sweet friend. The floor plan really helped me follow along. So fun to see it all together and it has been equally fun to see all the changes you have made over the years,xoxo Kathysue

Thanks so much for the tour, Marty! Your home is beautiful. I loved it when you put the hossier and other piece in the guest room! I think they are awesome! Every bit of your home is so pretty, you have done a beautiful job. LOVED seeing the clocks and hearing how handy your Mom was too!!! Now that the tour is up, you can relax for awehile:):) XO, pinky

Every room flows so easily into the next. Your colors are so soothing. I knew this, but seeing everything together just showed how tastefully decorated your home is. Enjoyed the tour, and the cookies were divine!!

You have a lovely home Marty....thank you so much for letting us come by for cookies, tea, and a tour! Seeing your floor plan and your sweet face at the door really set you apart from the other home tours....great job! Hugs, Penny

Thank you for giving us a tour of your home. It was a great idea to put the floor plan in, makes it so much easier to get an idea of the home's layout.It is easy to see that you have many treasures that you love. It made me smile to see your Hoosier cabinet used as a desk in the guest bedroom!Beautiful home!

Oh Marty how fun. I just toured your home and grabbed a cookie or two. It was fun seeing areas I don't think I've seen before. I don't remember seeing your patio and back yard. You have green grass?? I would not have thought that. And I LOVED all your plants, they put mine to shame. I love your home. It is classic and timeless and always so well put together and designed. I love how you put so much thought into all of your details. Those clocks are amazing and oh my goodness, what a treasure is that one from your mom and dad. <3 Thanks for letting us all in. I hope we didn't track things up to bad. :) xxxxooooo, Barb

You have a gift for creating adorable vignettes and beautiful wall displays! You have your precious treasures on display in such an appealing way! Thank you for sharing your lovely home with us, I truly enjoyed my visit :)

Marty, your home is so lovely! We are not ready yet to downsize... but some days it sure is tempting!!! I love the rich colors and wood in your home. It makes it feel cozy and welcoming. When I see you home I feel like I am in a grand home in Europe. So beautiful... with lots and lots of very well appointed details.BTW, thanks for the yummy cookies. I hope I didn't leave any crumbs!!!Lots of love to you!

Thanks for the tour of your lovely home Marty! I love how you showed the floor plan which I think works very well for entertaining and gathering.Love all your special touches throughout! Oh, and thanks for the cookie! ~Delores

You have such a beautiful home Marty....I love the way it all flows together with lay-out and colors. You do such a marvelous job with all your projects, drapes, etc. Love the changes you made in the bathroom recently especially the tray on the tank of the toilet!! Everything looks so warm and inviting, just like you!! Thanks for inviting us all in and the layout diagram to really envision how it all fits together....just a wonderful home. Blessings, Linda

Marty, I enjoyed your tour very much. I was blown away by the beautiful clock your parents made for you. I know it is very special to you.

Your home is perfectly styled and is so warm and inviting. I can tell that everything has a place. You are a warm and welcoming person and know just the right details down to the great looking cookies for your guests.

I love your collection of clocks, and it so nice to have things that were given to you by your parents. Our last home was right at 4,000 sq ft and we have downsized significantly so I feel your pain. Your house is really lovely and I can see how much joy you derive from your home. Enjoy.Thanks, Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design

Thank you so much for the tour! Now we know where you got your talent, with such creative parents.

I didn't know you were a Southerner!

I think your guestroom is my favorite. Whoever invented the Hoosier was a genius. I use mine like a pantry and to unload groceries in the garage. I have seen them used as desks, changing tables, craft centers, etc. I think one is only limited by one's imagination.

Thanks for the tour of your lovely home, Marty. It is so nice to see it all in one spot. I especially like your beautiful collection of art, frames and books, along with the pretty wood tones and neutrals. Have a great week!

Your home is gorgeous! Thank you for inviting everyone to view it! And the cookies look marvelous! Yummy! And that clock your parents made is stunning. You can tell a lot of love and care went into making that clock. Thank you for the tour.

You have a beautiful home! I love the butter churn that your DOLLAR tv sits on!! A DOLLAR???!!! What a steal! Love how you shopped your own home for your bathroom....I did the same thing for mine after my son left and took everything in his bathroom. Love your use of mirrors....it does transform a room! Recently, my son and his new bride bought a new house. They didn't have a lot of money to decorate. I was surprised to walk in and see two of the mirrors that Wallyworld or Target sells at going back to school time...you know, the cheap full length mirrors....she had two hung above her table about five inches apart....and it looked beautiful! I never would have though to do that! It made their house look bigger! I wanted to suggest getting some kind of floral swag to hang above them to tie them together, but I stopped myself and decided she might take that as criticism. lol

Loved your tour Marty!! So fun!!! So many neat parts about your home that I loved!! The colors are great and calming. I love the antiques here and there and how you incorporated them in the house so uniquely! Very nice and neat! Thanks so much for sharing!! Hugs! Claire

Marty - your home is so lovely and is everything a home should be. It was wonderful to see it all in one post and the floor plan really helped to put it all in perspective. We're going to be downsizing too in a few years. I know it's going to have lots of challenges, but I'm really, really looking forward to it! I enjoyed my visit with you this afternoon and thank you for the cookies. ;)

Hi Marty...loved the tour of your beautiful home!...I always look forward to all of the beautiful changes you make to your decor...your antiques are so gorgeously displayed...I can just smell those yummy cookies...thanks for the tour!!!

Marty! Thank you so much for the tour... I also live in a small space, less than 2000 sq ft and I find it hard to display everything I love without making it look cluttered sometimes, but you use every inch and it looks so cozy and warm. I especially love the bonnet bench! :)

What a lovely and sophisticated should you have. There are so many interesting and beautiful things to take in and appreciate. I love that you have quilt squares framed and on display. And, you are just as cute as can be.

Thanks so much for the lovely tour of your charming home, Marty! I always see something new that I haven't seen before when I visit. That clock that your parents made you is so gorgeous and I know how much you must treasure it.

Beautiful tour Marty! I think your home is the perfect size...roomy enough to live in, but not so large it takes forever to clean. I love your art, and my mom (an artist) would really love it! And your clock collection is simply wonderful!!

I love how you started the tour, Marty - with you standing at the front door (wish I'd thought of that). Love both the HUGE mirror and the round one!! And the window above your tub is wonderful! I could sit in that soaker tub of yours all day. I think my fave room is the kitchen. I like the color on the walls - makes it cozy and warm. Thanks for showing us your lovely home!

Very pretty! Thank you for sharing your home. Wish I could really snatch one of those cookies. :) Thank you for inviting me to your link party. I will be sure to make it next week. Don't know why I keep forgetting when you have one of the best parties going. :)

Thanks so much for inviting us all into your home. It is every bit as beautiful as I knew it would be. You have a real knack for pulling items together to make a beautiful showing. The clocks from your parents are priceless and gorgeous. What a treasure! Have a great weekend!Blessings,Nici

Such a beautiful house.Enjoyed every bit of touring your home.Everything fit in to the place.The colour combination i just love.Wonderful collections.The whole atmosphere gives a feeling of love and warmth.Lovely share...Have a beautiful week end...:):):)

Wonderful tour Marty, even though I have seen many photos of your home while reading your blog posts, it was fun to see it all together and hear about how you live. Your clock collection is so interesting, and I can't believe your parents were both talented woodworkers~what memorable pieces you have! Thanks for sharing your home with usJenna

Marty,You have a lovely home, dear friend!!!I adore your neutral background and how you change out the pillows and accessories to make a completely different look!!!Fabulous decor!!!I tend to lean towards the Traditional style myself!!!Thank you for sharing your Arizona home with us!!!Fondly,Pat

Hi Marty! I'm sorry I'm late for your home tour. We've been gone for a few days! Oh, I just adore your beautiful home and it's hard to believe it's under 2,000 sq feet! You make it look so much bigger. I love your traditional style and everything you do. Your home is gorgeous and so are you!Be a sweetie,Shelia ;)

Thanks for the tour, Marty. Your home is lovely! I smiled at the thought of the Hoosier in the guest room. We had a potbellied kitchen cabinet in our previous home that we used in the kitchen. There wasn't a spot for it in this home, so I gave it to my niece. She used it in her kitchen as I did for many years, but when she moved to a new home this spring, the cabinet didn't fit where she had planned. Not wanting to part with it, it's now in a guest room. No reason these pieces can't be useful someplace else other than a kitchen. '-)

Fierst of all...'who wouldn't want to go into your house, with your pretty self welcoming us?! Your home is beautiful and charming, Marty. You did an amazing job with it and you certainly don't need anything bigger as thery're so much work for us and yours is simply perfect! I love the warm colors of your home, as that is my taste too. Every part of your home is so inviting, I'd love to enter it for some cookies and coffee. I'm getting great ideas from your master bath, as we're still thinking of an update for it and for our master bedroom too. Thanks for sharing this wonderful tour with us. Big hugs,FABBY

After seeing bits and pieces of your home it was fun to get the grand tour! How I would love to grab one of those cookies and a cup of tea and sit a spell to enjoy your lovely surroundings. Beautiful, welcoming, full of peace . . . a reflection of who you are dear Marty. Thank you so much for sharing and blessings to you, Patti

That was so much fun! I have always loved your home and style. It was great to see the house in perspective. That clock from the school house is an amazing piece as are the other clocks, especially the one from your parents. Thank you for opening your doors and welcoming us in for a visit!

Marty, I love your home! We have a 2000 sq. ft. home so I understand the space issues. We just have more kids at home! I love the way you've made the most of the space and added things you love and make your house your home. You rocked the home tour as well!

About Me

Hi, I'm Marty. Welcome - Moving back closer to family finds us transforming our "Builder Basic" into a home that reflects our lifestyle. Careful planning, tons of DIY and a sharp eye for design can turn any house into your dream even if you have a small budget. I share it all, the successes and failures. We love to entertain so you'll find a few tried and true recipes and entertaining ideas too.